SD Challenge

Every year, employees have become increasingly involved in the various social and environmental initiatives encouraged by the Group Sustainable Development Challenge. With 114 new projects in 2016, the Sustainable Development Challenge attracted the highest level of participation since its creation. Half of these projects were dedicated to improving the social and economic conditions of communities surrounding our operations.

Communities:

“Crescendo microcredit” program, Brazil

Provide access to micro-loans and trainings to enhance local entrepreneurs in Brazil. 24 entrepreneursbuilt their own small businesses in 2016.

Educate to empower, India

Develop school infrastructure around 3 plants and promote education to underprivileged students. 3 classrooms have been built and school kits including books, uniforms and water filters were given.

New employment opportunities through the “One Sumter Initiative”, United States
Bring new jobs and enhance the existing employment base through participating to a 5-year initiative. Imerys Andersonville plant helped a local College to expand its courses offering. It also provided educational tours of the mines and financed various local projects.

School infrastructure Development, South Africa
Support 4 schools to develop their infrastructure and increase the number of classrooms. Through this project, the Annesley Mine helped 700 students.

Mineral Day for Students, Malaysia
Mineral Day is a program that has been held every year since 2010 for local University students near our Ipoh site in Malaysia. In 2016, a presentation about geology and mining was provided to students and a visit of the mine was organized.

Environment & biodiversity

Rising an old mine as a Vineyard (2015)
Planting 17,500 organic grapevines on 12 acres of land on the island of Milos as part of the rehabilitation of a closed mine.

Use of redundant mining lands for renewable energy generation, United Kingdom

Implementation and use of renewable energy sources (solar & wind power) across the sites’ unused land. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 5% and save nearly € 70,000 in electrical costs each year.

Driving improvement on resources efficiency, Carbonates DivisionLaunch of a new challenge called “As Green As White Can Be” within the Carbonates Division to gather and encourage energy savings and resource efficiency initiatives. In 2016, 87 projects have been submitted and are expected to generate close to 3.5 million € of savings by the end of 2017.

Sites’ rehabilitation with the implementation of Beehives, Ceramics Division

Contribute to bee conservation through the implementation of beehives or rehabilitated sites since 2015. In 2016, the division has signed a partnership with the French non-profit association UNAF to implement new bee hives in four French sites.

Human resources

Literacy and inclusion program, Brazil
Implementation of literacy classes to employees of the Itatex site in Brazil who did not previously went to school. All the students who attended this program were capable of reading and writing afterwards.